Press Releases

Warren E. Buffett Receives the National Commission on Writing Award for "Extraordinary Contributions to the Art and Craft of Writing"

02/04/05

OMAHA, Neb.—Today the National Commission on Writing for America's Families, Schools, and Colleges honored Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated, for his outstanding contributions to the art and craft of writing. Citing his authorship of Berkshire Hathaway's "highly acclaimed and respected" annual report to shareholders, the Commission commended Buffett for his exemplary accomplishments as a writer in the field of business.

Presenting Buffett with the award were Commission chair Bob Kerrey, president of New School University and former U. S. Senator from Nebraska, and Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board and former governor of West Virginia.

"With clarity, insight, and wit, each year Warren Buffett advises countless leaders of business and industry, scholars of commerce, public officials, and investors from across the spectrum. He is a visionary leader with exceptional skill in explaining complex ideas with just the right words. No annual report has had a greater impact on American business," Kerrey said.

In September 2004, the Commission issued its second report to Congress and the nation, entitled Writing: A Ticket to Work... Or a Ticket Out, a Survey of Business Leaders. The Commission surveyed corporate members of Business Roundtable, an association of leading U.S. corporations, and found that the ability to write opens doors to professional employment, especially in those sectors that are projected to have the greatest growth. Yet these businesses are dissatisfied with the writing skills of college graduates and spend billions of dollars each year trying to remedy writing deficiencies.

"Just as it is for our universities, law firms, and government, effective writing is essential for the success of our businesses. If writing is to improve in this country, it needs the support of not only educators and policymakers, but also of international opinion makers. A true giant in the world of commerce, Warren Buffett is also a thoughtful and talented communicator. Today, we are pleased to have the chance to pay tribute to him as a great writer," Kerrey said.

Kerrey has served as chair of the National Commission on Writing for America's Families, Schools, and Colleges since April 2003, when the group released its first report, The Neglected "R": The Need for a Writing Revolution. The Commission is made up of education and business leaders advised by a panel of academic experts on writing. It was launched by the College Board in 2002 to create national support for the teaching of writing.

"As a world-renowned business leader, Mr. Buffett harnesses the power of writing to share his wisdom," said Caperton. "He is a model for all of us who strive to better our professional contributions through effective and meaningful communication."

Recipients of the Commission's 2004 award for extraordinary contributions to the art and craft of writing were Robert C. Byrd, U.S. Senator from West Virginia, and Thad Cochran, U.S. Senator from Mississippi.

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